{"id":4056,"date":"2023-03-10T12:03:32","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T12:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/?p=4056"},"modified":"2023-03-10T12:03:36","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T12:03:36","slug":"install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Active<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through the steps to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2 and up. Unlike previous versions where DCPROMO.EXE<\/kbd> was used to install Active Directory, Microsoft now recommends using a different method. To install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 and up, you need to follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 – Open \u201cServer Manager\u201d and select \u201cManage\u201d \u2192 \u201cAdd Roles and Feature\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"Windows<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
2 – Click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"windows<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
3 – Select \u201cRole-based or feature-based Installation\u201d and click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"select<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
4 – Choose \u201cSelect a server from the server pool\u201d if you\u2019re installing locally.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"select<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
5 – Check the box next to \u201cActive Directory Domain Services\u201d. A box will appear explaining additional roles services or features required for domain services.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"select<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
6 – Click Add Features.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"add<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
7 – Check \u201cGroup Policy Management\u201d and click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"select<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
8 – Click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"domain<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
9 – Click \u201cInstall\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"Confirm<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Wait for the installation bar to complete.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"installation<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
10 – Once installed, open the Notifications Pane in Server Manager by selecting the Notifications icon at the top of Server Manager. and select \u201cPromote this server to a domain controller\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"notification<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
11 – Click on \u201cAdd a new forest\u201d and enter your root domain name into the Root domain name field (e.g., \u201cexample.com\u201d).<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"deployment<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
12 – Select a Domain and Forest functional level and enter a DSRM password in the provided password fields (used when booting into recovery mode).<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"domain<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
13 – On the DNS Options tab, click OK then Next.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"dns<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
14 – Enter NETBIOS name and click \u201cNext\u201d.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"additional<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
15 – Choose locations for SYSVOL, Log files, and Database folders then click Next.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"Active<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
16 – Click \u201cInstall\u201d and wait for completion (the server will restart several times).<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"Active<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The installation is now complete!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Active<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This article taught us how to install Active Directory in Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019. We followed several steps to add roles and features, promote the server to a domain controller, and configure the domain and forest functional levels. This process is essential for setting up a secure and efficient network environment where users and resources can be managed centrally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this guide, we\u2019ll walk you through the steps to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2 and up. Unlike previous versions where DCPROMO.EXE was used to install Active Directory, Microsoft now recommends using a different method. To install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 and up, you need to follow these steps: 1 ..<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,53],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nInstall Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WebHi Tutorials & Documentations\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/webhi.technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2023\/03\/ActiveD_WindwSRV_en-1.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"webhi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@WebHiTechnology\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@WebHiTechnology\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"webhi\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"TechArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"webhi\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/b31e76e2311cdc0bb90f5e2733059a54\"},\"headline\":\"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\"},\"wordCount\":332,\"commentCount\":1,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Security\",\"Windows system administration\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\",\"name\":\"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/\",\"name\":\"WebHi Tutorials & Documentations\",\"description\":\"System administration and knowledge base\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization\",\"name\":\"WebHi Technology\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2022\/07\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2022\/07\/logo.png\",\"width\":288,\"height\":95,\"caption\":\"WebHi Technology\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/webhi.technology\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WebHiTechnology\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/b31e76e2311cdc0bb90f5e2733059a54\",\"name\":\"webhi\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/ahuphiph\/litespeed\/avatar\/e20da107d0f4c765ead2eef88ad019d8.jpg?ver=1781819544\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/ahuphiph\/litespeed\/avatar\/e20da107d0f4c765ead2eef88ad019d8.jpg?ver=1781819544\",\"caption\":\"webhi\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/author\/webhi\/\"}]}<\/script>\n","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations","description":"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations","og_description":"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/","og_site_name":"WebHi Tutorials & Documentations","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/webhi.technology","article_published_time":"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2023\/03\/ActiveD_WindwSRV_en-1.jpg"}],"author":"webhi","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@WebHiTechnology","twitter_site":"@WebHiTechnology","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"webhi","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"TechArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/"},"author":{"name":"webhi","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/b31e76e2311cdc0bb90f5e2733059a54"},"headline":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019","datePublished":"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/"},"wordCount":332,"commentCount":1,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Security","Windows system administration"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/","url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/","name":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019 - WebHi Tutorials & Documentations","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-03-10T12:03:32+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-10T12:03:36+00:00","description":"Step-by-step guide to install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019. Learn how to add roles and features and promote your server to a domain controller.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/install-active-directory-on-windows-server-2012-2016-and-2019\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Install Active Directory on Windows Server 2012, 2016, and 2019"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/","name":"WebHi Tutorials & Documentations","description":"System administration and knowledge base","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#organization","name":"WebHi Technology","url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2022\/07\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/gilrogre\/2022\/07\/logo.png","width":288,"height":95,"caption":"WebHi Technology"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/webhi.technology","https:\/\/twitter.com\/WebHiTechnology"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/b31e76e2311cdc0bb90f5e2733059a54","name":"webhi","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/ahuphiph\/litespeed\/avatar\/e20da107d0f4c765ead2eef88ad019d8.jpg?ver=1781819544","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/ahuphiph\/litespeed\/avatar\/e20da107d0f4c765ead2eef88ad019d8.jpg?ver=1781819544","caption":"webhi"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to"],"url":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/author\/webhi\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4056"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4214,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4056\/revisions\/4214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webhi.com\/how-to\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}